The Portland daily press., 1887-08-26
ADDRESSED TO THE QUEEN.
The Resolution Against the ProcIa-
nation Of the League.
Gladstone Condemns the Govern
ment In an Eloquent Address.
irishmen Exhorted to Bear Their
Additional Burdens Patiently.

II 16fd0Uo FdEl9nty.
LONDON, Aug. 25.-Mr. Gladstone was
greeted with cheers In the Commons this
evening, when he arose to move the resolu-
tion; Ihat humble address be presented
70 tne queen, representing that the Viceroy
OF ireland has proclaimed the National
League as dangerous association. and that
no information has been furnished 10 Parlia-
nen. 20 Justify the proclamation. by virtue
Oh which Her Maiesty's subjects are to be
rendered liable to be punished as criminals
without judicial inquiry into the nature Of
their acts; and that the House, In the alb
senee OF such information, prays that the
said proclamation may not continue in force
as 70 tne association named and described
Mr.. Gladstone said that the Irish Viceroy.
In declaring that the League had melted yio-
lence, must have acted on some information
but where Is this information? The Irish
chiefs have right 70 demand TO know the
grounds ON which the government acted. III
the facts are withheld, the opposition mnst
forthwith urge three propositions upon the
House and the government: First, that Il
was slight, almost an outrage. on the digni-
W Oh Parliament TO suppose 1t was 30 dis
charge such an important statutory duty
without knowing the grounds. Secondly.
that II reduced TO utter destruction and az,
surdity the main contention Of the govern
ment, advanced during the discussion OF the
crimes act, and that the safeguard promised
had proved farce. He asked, what Is the
value or meaning Of parliamentary approval
given In Ignorance Of the factsP Why not
follow the course taken by Wellington and
Peel In 1929, regarding the Catholic League
and suppress Itp Thirdly, said Mr.. CAD
stone, what can the House think Of informa-
tiOn tnat, they must know, would not bear
the light? Cheers.
MT. Gladstone said that he had always
contended that the government was leglsla-
ting against combination, apart from crime.
and now Is the time for the government 10
show that he and his friends have been
wrong. But the government shrinks from
the test and declines the challenge. They
have substituted their arbitrary will for re-
gular and legal action. This prin siple Is a
most dangerous and disgraceful one in anv
country and especially In Ireland. The law
IN Ireland Is still on trial and the great mis-
fortune is that that those who administer IL.
especially locally. are not In sympathy with
the feelings OF the people. The pgOclama-
tion Of the National League Is a near ap-
proaeh TO declaration Of war on the Irish
people.
The people Of Ireland generally SYM
pathize with the League because liz has
been their salvation. Parnelite cheers1
Nobody did anything for tenants until the
League was founded. The government are
that they intend to work the act by summary
Jurisdiction. The governments action ab-
solutely excluded the House from ANYTHING
except absurd and perfunctory operation In
eohheetlon with the great duty de-
Their eognizance Of the proclamation was
reduced TO a mere farce. There would be no
Jury. judge or resident magistrate, and no
Parliament TO control ireland. There would
De nothing but the absolute and unmitigated
arbitrary acts Of the Irish executive, which
Is necessarily partizan. The speaker hoped
the Irish would continue to bear the press
ure, and would not have TO suffer long. He
was certain that they would not obey the law
through fear (Cheers), but from strong vivid,
buoyant hope, which even at the last election
was not damaged and which now is brighter
and ;livelier. (Cheers.l The Irish believe
that the governments policy does not have
the sanction Of the British nation. Qrish
cheers) The governments foundation Is
slipping from under them, and their action
the proclamation Of the League
shows their strength to be failing. Ireland,
seeing this, trusts to the English nation TO
fulfil her reasonable wishes, and is convinced
that her rea lonable wishes win not be dlsap-
pointed.
Mr.. Gladstone then presented the resolu-
tion amid prolonged cheers.
Mr. Balf0ur said that Mr.. Gladstone wonld
have been wiser had he rested his argument
on the allegation that the House was ignor
ant OF the grounds of the proclamation.
rather than on the defence Of the League.
The governments difficulty was not In ind
ing evidence to justify the proclamation but
In selecting 10 from the enormous mass Of
evidence they possessed. There Is sufficient
foundation to justify the proclamation In the
columns OF local newspapers without going
into the governments confidential reports
Mr.. Balfour argued that when Mr. Glad
stone proclaimed the Land League, he ala
so when Mr.. Parnell was imprisoned and
Parliament not sitting, and that he afforded
n a IN for Naf NA0NN 80
quoted at length from documents 10 show
the League to be guilty OF boycotting, coere-
ing and instigating infractons Of the law.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt asked the
Speaker whether the documents from which
he quoted would be submitted to the House.
Mr. Balfour refused to submit the dOcu-
nents. and narrated other instances of the
Leagues unlawful action.
Sir William asked the Speaker whether
documents cited.
The Speaker replied that Mr.. Balfour was
lot bound to table confidential documents.
'ut the case is different with official papers,
Which the House might want to verify.
Mr.. Balfour was justified In quoting from
confidential documents. but the authority of
Iuch quotations Is weakened because the
documents are not tabled.
Sir William said after the Speakers
'uling. II expect the papers TO be Ia
)led."
Mr.. Balfour said II shall do nothing of
he kind. The documents are OF three sorts,
public confidential papers.and my own notes.
II the people realized the true nature OF the
working Of the League they would, regard
ess Of creed or party, support the govern
nent. ministerial cheers) Mr. Balfour
accused the opposition, through Mr.. Glad
't0ne, Of making themselves apologies for,
md therefore aecomplces in intimidation
MIR. Harrington, Nationalist, commented
lpon the worthlessness OF documents which
he government refused TO table. He said it
would be the duty Of the League 10 continue
Is work and not to shrink frsm the con
sequences.
Mr.. Buchanan, Liberal Unionist. said the
governments action was i'll timed. Mr.
3alfour has not given a fair account Of the
ioings OF the League, which, from the most
eliable data In the possession Of the House,
las been largely instrumental In having rents
edueed. The English people desire the
irish difficulty TO be treated amicably The
government Is pursuing contrary course,
md he hoped, even at the last moment. they
would refrain from continuing their unwise
)olicy.
Mr.. T. w. Russell. after remarking that
dr. Gladstone somewhat miscOnstrued some
I his statements, protested against the cOer-
ion of the League, but said that having
Imported the crimes bill, he could not with
old from the government the powers they
emanded.
Mr. Bradlaugh, Radical, said that boy-
ottlng Is not peculiarly an institution in
ented in England to exterminate the Irish.
I the governments statements are true,why
Iad they not proclaimed the League before,
s an association for the promotion OF crime.
he country will judge Of the conduct Of
he government, which obtained powers
to suppress crime but really, to
uppress a political organization which they
Tread.
Mr.. p. O'Connor, Nationalist, said the ef-
ect Of this proclamation would be 70 remove
he partition existing between the tenantry
nd the evicting landlords. Admitting that
here had been few cases of intimidation,
he government had ample power 20 deal
With them without prOclaiming the League
intimidation Is not unusual with English
rades unions. Where the League is strong
here is little trouble; where 1t Is weak there
! much trouble. In many cases branches
ave been dissolved by the central body for
oyeotting and other actious of which the
eague disapproved.
On motion Of Sir G. o. Trevelyan the de-
ate adjourned. Mr.. Chamberlain was alb